American singer-songwriter, Lana Del Rey, is set to perform in Israel as part of the line up for the inaugural Meteor Festival, which will take place from September 6 to September 8.

Ever since the announcement of her involvement with the festival, the ‘Born to Die’ singer has faced a huge backlash online with thousands of her own fans urging her to pull out of the show and take part in the cultural boycott of the country.

In response, she tweeted out on Sunday (19th) defending her decision to join the event.

“I understand your concern, I really do. What I can tell you is I believe music is universal and should be used to bring us together.” she said

“…..and my plan was for it to be done [with] a loving energy with a thematic emphasis on peace.”

Lana Del Rey In Concert

“If you don’t agree with it I get it. I see both sides. We don’t always agree with the politics of the places we play within or even in our own country.” continued Del Rey, who had stopped using the American flag visuals in her shows because of President Trump’s “politics and inhumane actions”

“I would like to remind you that performing in Tel Aviv is not a political statement or a commitment to the politics there”

(Despite her reference to the city of Tel Aviv, the Meteor festival is scheduled to take place at Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan in the Upper Galilee region.)

You’re giving an illegal and criminal state validation by performing on occupied land. You do not “understand both sides” because one side is watching its children being massacred while the other gets to watch you perform.

The hashtag ‘LanaDontGo’ started trending as well with people from all over the world urging Del Rey to step down and cancel.

Lana Del Rey,My cousin was protesting for his rights in #Gaza. An Israeli soldier shot him with an explosive bullet that led him to complete paralysis forever! Over 170 unarmed Palestinian protesters were killed by them. #LanaDontGo. Cancel your concert in Israel, please.

We understand hun but this is bigger than what you think. Joining the boycott and cancelling would make be big step forwards. This festival is funded by the government and is used to show the world that the israel is peaceful and open when it’s held on illegal lands #LANADONTGO

Roger Waters spray paints graffiti against Israel’s separation barrier surrounding the West Bank town of Bethlehem before his concert in Rotterdam, 7 July 2006

Musician and former Pink Floyd member, Roger Walters, wrote Lana on Facebook to “clear a couple of things up”, imploring her and any other act expected to take part to reconsider their position. He also argues that Del Rey’s neutrality and willingness to perform is “a political act in support of the apartheid state that would deny them those basic human rights”

Only Today did the ‘Lust for Life’ singer reply to Walters as she re-addressed the issue in an Instagram post.

Inspired by the struggle of black South Africans during apartheid, Palestinians are asking for meaningful solidarity — not charity — as we resist Israel’s decades-long oppression. pic.twitter.com/vGSVFIFhp6

Furthermore, Del Rey is not the first artist to face such scrutiny as performing anywhere near the occupation is highly politicized. Only last year, the New Zealand singer Lorde was put in the same position.

Lorde

Lorde had booked a concert in Tel Aviv but eventually cancelled saying: aying: “I didn’t make the right call on this one.” Her decision was supported in an open letter by musicians including Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and Roger Waters.

Radiohead

There are other who, unlike Lorde, went ahead and performed their shows anyway, like the band Radiohead, whose lead singer Thom Yorke argued that “playing in a country isn’t the same as endorsing its government.”

What do you think of the cultural boycott? What are your thoughts on Lana’s actions? Please tell us in the comments!

Comments

Seventeen. Multi-fandomed. I have a thing for knowing a lot of useless trivia. My favorite movie is a 1946 production starring James Stewart, I watch it at least six times during the month of December.